Relationship between disease severity and serum IL-6 levels in COVID-19 anosmia.

BACKGROUND: An association between IL-6 levels and cytokine storm syndrome in COVID-19 patients has been suggested. Cases with higher IL-6 levels have more rapid progression and a higher complication rate. On the other hand, COVID-19 cases with anosmia have a milder course of the disease. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between serum IL-6 levels and presence of anosmia in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 based on laboratory (PCR) were stratified into two groups based on presence of olfactory dysfunction (OD). In all cases with and without anosmia; psychophysical test (Sniffin' Sticks test) and a survey on olfactory symptoms were obtained. Threshold (t) - discrimination (d) - identification (i), and total (TDI) scores reflecting olfactory function were calculated. Clinical symptoms, serum IL-6 levels, other laboratory parameters, and chest computed tomography (CT) findings were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients were included, comprising 23 patients with anosmia and 36 patients without OD based on TDI scores. Patients with anosmia (41.39 ± 15.04) were significantly younger compared to cases without anosmia (52.19 ± 18.50). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of comorbidities, smoking history, and symptoms including nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. Although serum IL-6 levels of all patients were above normal values (7 pg/mL), patients with anosmia had significantly lower serum IL-6 levels (16.72 ± 14.28 pg/mL) compared to patients without OD (60.95 ± 89.33 pg/mL) (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Patients with COVID-19 related anosmia tend to have significantly lower serum levels of IL-6 compared to patients without OD, and the lower IL-6 levels is related to milder course of the disease. With the effect of low cytokine storm and IL-6 level, it may be said that anosmic cases have a milder disease in COVID-19.

Characterization of lean patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: potential role of high hemoglobin levels.

OBJECTIVE: Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, a minority of NAFLD patients have a body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m(2) (lean NAFLD). We sought to investigate whether significant differences exist between lean NAFLD and more common forms of NAFLD associated with overweight/obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 483 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were enrolled. Lean NAFLD was defined as having a BMI <25 kg/m(2). We identified 37 patients with lean NAFLD (7.6%). RESULTS: Compared with NAFLD patients with overweight/obesity, lean NAFLD patients were younger, had lower blood pressure values, higher levels of hemoglobin, a lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, and less severe hepatic fibrosis. In NAFLD patients with overweight/obesity, diabetes was the only independent predictor of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In lean NAFLD, the only variable independently associated with NASH was hemoglobin. Alanine aminotransferase and diabetes were independent predictors of fibrosis ≥2 in NAFLD patients with overweight/obesity, whereas hemoglobin was the only independent predictor of fibrosis ≥2 in lean NAFLD. CONCLUSION: In summary, lean NAFLD patients are younger and show less severe hepatic fibrosis. However, such subjects have higher hemoglobin levels, which seem to predict the histological severity.

Detection of hepatic steatosis using the controlled attenuation parameter: a comparative study with liver biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: Measurements of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) with transient elastography (FibroScan®; EcoSens SA, Paris, France) may provide an accurate noninvasive assessment of hepatic steatosis. Herein, we prospectively determined the accuracy of liver fat quantification with CAP values in patients with chronic liver diseases and compare the results with those of histological assessment of steatosis as reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 50 Turkish patients with various forms of chronic liver diseases. All patients underwent both CAP assessment and ultrasonography-guided liver biopsy. RESULTS: On liver biopsy, 16 (32%) patients had S0, 12 (24%) had S1, 9 (18%) had S2, and 13 (26%) had S3. The CAP values increased significantly (p<0.001) for each steatosis stage on liver biopsy: S0, 222 dB/m; S1, 250 dB/m; S2, 270 dB/m; and S3, 318 dB/m. A cutoff value of 257 dB/m could distinguish significant steatosis (S2-S3) from S0 (Sn 89%, Sp 83%, positive likelihood ratio 5.33, negative likelihood ratio 0.13, AUROC=0.93). Multivariable analysis indicated that neither liver fibrosis (p=0.58) nor disease etiology (p=0.96) had a significant impact on the association between CAP and the stage of steatosis. CONCLUSION: The determination of CAP using transient elastography can represent an important step forward toward the goal of an "imaging liver biopsy".

A comparison of FibroMeter™ NAFLD Score, NAFLD fibrosis score, and transient elastography as noninvasive diagnostic tools for hepatic fibrosis in patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive markers that purport to distinguish patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with fibrosis from those without must be evaluated rigorously for their classification accuracy. Herein, we seek to compare the diagnostic performances of three different noninvasive methods (FibroMeter™ NAFLD score, NAFLD Fibrosis score (NFSA), and Transient Elastrography [TE]) for the detection of liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients. METHODS: A total of 88 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included. The Kleiner system was used for grading fibrosis in liver biopsies. The FibroMeter™ NAFLD score was determined using a proprietary algorithm (regression score). The NFSA score was calculated based on age, hyperglycemia, body mass index, platelets, albumin and serum aminotransferase levels. TE was performed using the Fibroscan apparatus. RESULTS: The sensitivities/specificities for the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score, NFSA, and TE for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (F2 + F3 + F4 fibrosis) were 38.6%/86.4%, 52.3%/88.6%, and 75.0%/93.2%, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of TE were significantly higher than those of both the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score and NFSA. No significant differences were found between the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score and NFSA for the detection of significant and severe fibrosis, although the diagnostic performance of the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score was higher than that of the NFSA score for cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, TE showed the best diagnostic performance for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients. The diagnostic performances of the FibroMeter™ NAFLD score and NFSA did not differ significantly for the detection of both significant and severe fibrosis.

Clinical staging in chronic heart failure associated with low vitamin D and elevated parathormone levels.

OBJECTIVE: Growing evidence in the literature suggests a relationship between heart failure and vitamin D-parathormone cascade. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the clinical stage of the heart failure with vitamin D-parathormone levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety consecutive patients, who were admitted to our clinic from December 2012 to May 2013, were included in the present study. The patients with heart failure were clinically classified into four stages (stage A through stage D). Vitamin D and parathormone levels were measured and echocardiographic recordings were obtained from each patient. The patients with heart failure had significantly lower vitamin D levels compared to the control group (14.5 ng/ml versus 38 ng/ml, P < 0.001). In the four subgroups of patients with heart failure, vitamin D levels significantly decreased (30 ng/ml, 25 ng/ml, 13.5 ng/ml, and 6 ng/ml in stages A, B, C, and D, respectively), and parathormone levels significantly increased (50 pq/ml, 44 pq/ml, 70 pq/ml, and 98.5 pg/ml, respectively) with progression in the heart failure from stage A to stage D (P < 0.001). The log10 EF (B = -2.39, 95% CI = -3.36-1.42, P < 0.001), log10 BNP (B = 0.405, 95% CI = 0.13-0.69, P = 0.005, log10 vitamin D (B = -0.75, 95% CI = -1.18-0.31, P = 0.001) were the independent predictors of heart failure stage in multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D and parathormone levels were closely associated with the stage of heart failure. There was a significant decrease in vitamin D levels and a significant increase in serum parathormone levels with clinical deterioration in heart failure.

Urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase-to-creatinine ratio as an indicator of tubular function in Bence Jones proteinuria.

Increased urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity suggests early renal tubular damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the urinary GGT activity as a marker of renal injury in different types of Bence Jones Proteinuria (BJP). One hundred and three individuals with BJP were included in the study. Urinary GGT activity, urinary GGT-to-creatinine ratio and urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio were studied. Urine samples were tested by immunofixation agarose gel electrophoresis. Total urinary excretion of kappa and lambda light chains were measured by nephelometric method. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics of the patients in Lambda BJP, Kappa BJP and Control groups. GGT-to-creatinine ratio of the Lambda BJP group was significantly higher than Kappa BJP group and controls (p = 0.018 and 0.002, respectively). There was no correlation between the quantitative kappa and lambda BJP and urinary GGT-to-creatinine ratio. Our data have demonstrated that urinary GGT-to-creatinine ratio could be a tubular damage marker of lambda light chain proteinuria.

Relationship between neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels and inflammatory bowel disease type and activity.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a recently identified molecule, which is bacteriostatic, has tissue destructive effects and is pro-inflammatory with chemoattractant molecule binding properties. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between serum NGAL levels and the type and level of disease activity of IBD. METHODS: A total of 92 patients [43 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 49 with ulcerative colitis (UC)], and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were included in this study. Serum NGAL levels were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: Serum NGAL levels were elevated in the IBD group [median 171, range (57-312) ng/mL] compared to the HC group [107 (45-234) ng/mL] (p<0.0001) and were elevated in UC patients [188 (74-312) ng/mL] compared to CD patients [168 (57-279) ng/mL] (p=0.006). When NGAL levels were further analysed based on localization of the CD and UC, the levels in ulcerative pancolitis [233 (144-312) ng/mL] were significantly higher (p=0.004) than the left-sided colitis [156 (103-309) ng/mL]. Similarly, NGAL levels were significantly higher in colonic CD [207 (125-249) ng/mL] than ileal CD [114 (78-210) ng/mL], and also in ileocolonic CD [198 (57-279) ng/mL] than ileal CD (p=0.033). When CD and UC groups were further categorized as active and inactive according to clinical and endoscopic activity indices, serum NGAL concentrations did not differ between inquiescent versus active stages. When a cut-off level of 129 ng/mL was used to distinguish IBD from HC, a sensitivity of 76.1% and a specificity of 60.9% was reached. CONCLUSIONS: The serum NGAL levels in the IBD group was significantly higher than the HC group. Serum NGAL levels were higher in more extensive colonic involvement.

Re-evaluation of cases with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors between 2004 and 2012 according to the 2010 criteria.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We re-evaluated the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) diagnosed in our pathology laboratory between 2004 and 2012 and re-classified them according to the WHO-2000 and WHO-2010 criteria. METHODOLOGY: The study included NET samples of 106 patients having gastroenteropancreatic and hepatobiliary tumors. The histopathological findings were re-assessed. The cases were re-appraised based on the WHO-2000 and WHO-2010 criteria. The association between survival and Ki-67 index was analysed. RESULTS: The most frequent localization was the stomach. The average tumor size was 3.0±4.1 cm. Differentiation was poor in 17 cases (16.0%). Lymphovascular invasion was detected in 16.1% (n = 17) and necrosis was identified in 15.1% (n = 16). The average number of Ki-67 was 9.1±19.9. Ki-67 measurements were significantly higher in patients who died compared to those who survived (p <0.01). In ROC analysis, the cut-off point for Ki-67 was 5. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is a single-center study comprising patients from Turkey for a period of 8 years. We found that the most frequent localization is the stomach. This ratio is associated with common use of endoscopy in our center. The specimens were re-evaluated according to the WHO-2000 and WHO-2010 classification systems the data and terminology have been updated.

Evaluation of leptin and insulin resistance in patients with cholelithiasis.

The association between insulin resistance, lipoproteins and leptin was evaluated in cholelithiasis. The study group included 55 women (68.8%) and 25 men (31.3%) with a mean age and SD of 50.56 +/- 14.28 yrs. The control group included 25 women (62.5%) and 15 men (37.5%) with a mean age of 50.93 +/- 11.73 yrs. Serum leptin levels were measured by the enzyme immunoassay method. HOMA-IR was determined by using fasting glucose and insulin levels. Insulin, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, HOMA-IR (p < 0.01) and leptin (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the cholelithiasis group, compared to the controls. In patients with a HOMA-IR >2.2, age, body mass index (BMI), glucose, insulin, triglycerides (TG), TC and leptin levels were higher than in patients with a HOMA-IR < 2.2. In patients with glucose levels >100 mg/dl, mean BMI, HOMA-IR, insulin, TG, TC and leptin levels were significantly higher than in patients with glucose levels <100 mg/dl. In patients with TG levels >150 mg/dl, mean age, BMI, glucose, insulin, TC, leptin and HOMA-IR were significantly higher than in patients with TG levels < 150 mg/dl. In patients with BMI > 25 kg/m2, mean age, glucose, insulin, TG, TC, leptin, HOMA-IR were significantly higher than in patients with BMI < 25. In cholelithiasis group, there was a positive correlation between leptin and age, BMI, glucose, insulin, TG, TC, LDL-C or HOMA-IR. In conclusion, we found a positive association between increased leptin levels and abnormal lipoprotein metabolism in cholelithiasis. Cholelithiasis subjects with insulin resistance showed higher cardiometabolic risk factors than those without it.

Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in kidney transplant recipients: A cross-sectional study using FibroScan.

Background and Aim: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is expected to be prevalent among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of MAFLD among KTRs, data that have not been investigated by any clinical study to date. Materials and Methods: We included a total of 52 KTRs and 53 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched individuals as the control group through prospective consecutive recruitment. We detected the presence of hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) defined by FibroScan. Results: Among the KTRs, 18 (34.6%) had metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of MAFLD among the KTRs and controls was 42.3% and 51.9%, respectively (p=0.375). The CAP and LSM values did not differ significantly between the KTRs and controls (p=0.222 and p=0.119). Among the KTRs, patients with MAFLD had significantly higher age, BMI, waist circumference, LDL, and total cholesterol levels (p<0.001, p=0.011, p=0.033, p=0.022, and p=0.029, respectively). In multivariable analysis, age was the only independent factor for MAFLD among the KTRs (OR: 1.120, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.039-1.208). Conclusion: MAFLD among KTRs did not show a significantly higher prevalence compared to the normal population. Further clinical studies with larger populations are needed.

Effects of alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid on Helicobacter pylori colonization and the severity of gastric inflammation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We aimed to evaluate the changes in histopathologic features, concentrations of vitamins C and E in gastric mucosa, and total antioxidant capacity of the body after ingestion of ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol in patients with Helicobacter pylori. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients with H. pylori-positive nonulcer dyspepsia were included in this study. Tissue samples were taken from the lesser and greater curvature in both prepyloric antrum and corpus for histopathologic examination and measurement of vitamins C and E concentrations. Blood samples were obtained for measurement of the total antioxidant capacity of the body. The patients were given vitamin C 500 mg BID and vitamin E 200 IU BID for 4 weeks orally. At the end of the 4th week, the initial procedures were repeated. Histopathologic examination of the tissue samples were carried out by two pathologists. RESULTS: The mean vitamins C and E concentrations in gastric mucosa at the 4th week were higher than those at the beginning (p = .000 and p = .006, respectively). Mean total antioxidant capacity of the body at the beginning and that at the 4th week were similar (p = .689). H. pylori intensity in the antrum at the beginning was higher than that at the 4th week for both pathologists (p = .007 and p = .039). Neutrophilic activity in the antrum at the beginning was higher than that at the 4th week for both pathologists (p = .000 and p = .025). Neutrophilic activity in the corpus at the beginning was higher than that at the 4th week for pathologist 1 (p = .033), and they were similar for pathologist 2 (p = .763). CONCLUSION: The findings that H. pylori intensity and neutrophilic activity decrease through increasing gastric ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol concentrations suggest that supplementation with vitamins C and E increases the eradication rates via impairing the microenvironment created by the bacteria and facilitating the diffusion of antibiotics into gastric mucosa.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a lower response rate to HBV vaccination compared to controls.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B (HBV) is a vaccine-preventable infection that may cause severe infections, particularly in patients who are being treated with immunosuppressive therapy [(i.e., inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)]. Limited data are available about IBD patients' response rate to HBV vaccine. AIM: To assess the efficacy of HBV vaccine in IBD patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Serological markers of HBV were assessed in IBD patients, and HBV vaccine was administered to seronegative patients. The subsequent determination of anti-HBs antibody was recorded. An adequate immune response (AIR) and an effective immune response (EIR) to HBV were defined as more than 10 and 100 mIU/ml, respectively. The single dose vaccine was administered at 0, 1 and 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients with IBD (39 Crohn's disease, 63 ulcerative colitis; 54 female, 48 male) and 52 (25 female, 27 male) healthy controls were included. Mean age for patients and controls were 38 ± 12 and 31 ± 8, respectively (P < 0.001). Both AIR and EIR were significantly lower in patients than in controls (P < 0.001), but they were similar between patients with CD and UC (P = 0.302). Forty-four (43%) patients were on immunosuppressive therapy before vaccination. After vaccination, 76 and 53% of the patients had AIRs and EIRs, respectively, whereas 100 and 87% of the controls had AIRs and EIRs, respectively (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The response rate of IBD patients receiving HBV vaccinations were significantly lower compared to controls. The response rate of those receiving immunosuppressive therapy and with active disease was much too low. Vaccination should be given during remission and at immunosuppression-free times.

Struggle Against Pandemic in A Private Hospital: What We Have Learnt from Pandemic?

Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is one of the biggest outbreaks in the last century and is caused by a kind of coronavirus, spread to many countries in a short time after being first seen in the Wuhan region of China in December 2019. The COVID-19 outbreak, which spread rapidly and caused many deaths, was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The first COVID-19 case in Turkey, coincidentally, was seen on the same day. In this article, the story of the pandemic struggle successfully carried out in a private hospital and the teachings of the process are provided.

Fecal tag CT colonography with a limited 2-day bowel preparation following incomplete colonoscopy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and patient tolerance of a 2-day limited fecal tag bowel preparation in computed tomographic colonography (CTC) performed for incomplete conventional colonoscopy (CC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients who underwent a CTC examination fbecause of incomplete CC were included. A low-residue diet was given for 2 days before CTC. Fecal tagging (FT) was done using a barium sulfate suspension. The quality of the preparation, success of tagging and patient experience with the bowel preparation were investigated. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty bowel segments were evaluated. The number of solid stool balls of 6-9 mm size was 284; the corresponding figure was 93 for solid stool balls ≥ 10 mm. Residual fluid was present in about one-third of the segments. The fecal tagging efficacy for ≥ 6 mm residual stool balls was 92 %. Overall, 16 (21.3 %) patients presented with colonic lesions at CTC. Three out of four colonic mass lesions had not been diagnosed with CC. Most patients reported mild discomfort. CONCLUSION: FT-CTC performed after a limited 2-day bowel preparation seems to be a technically feasible, safe and acceptable procedure that allows a complete a colonic study in incomplete CC patients.

Not only type 2 diabetes but also prediabetes is associated with portal inflammation and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIMS: Growing evidence suggests that not only type 2 diabetes (T2D) but also prediabetes (PD) is common in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, few data exist on how PD impacts the histological characteristics of NAFLD patients. In this exploratory study, we sought to investigate the associations of PD and T2D with the severity of the histological features in patients with NAFLD. METHODS: The population consisted of 280 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. The associations of PD and T2D with the severity of histological features of NAFLD were analyzed using multiple logistic (or ordinal logistic) regression models after adjustment for confounding factors. RESULTS: PD and T2D was noted in 102 (36.4%) and 92 (32.8%) of patients, respectively. Of the 92 patients with T2D, ten (10.9%) were diagnosed de novo after the OGTT. PD and T2D were significantly associated with more severe portal inflammation (P<0.01); the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of PD and T2D for having a higher grade of portal inflammation were 1.8 [95% CI, 1.1, 3.2] and 2.6 [95% CI, 1.3, 5.8]), respectively. A similar relationship was observed for liver fibrosis (P<0.001); specifically, the adjusted ORs of PD and T2D for having a higher grade of hepatic fibrosis were 2.4 [95% CI, 1.3, 3.7] and 3.8 [95% CI, 1.9, 6.1]), respectively. CONCLUSION: Not only T2D but also PD is independently associated with portal inflammation and fibrosis in NAFLD patients. PD may be useful as a clinical indicator of patients who are likely to have already more severe histological findings.

Evaluation of paraoxonase, malondialdehyde, and lipoprotein levels in patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To compare lipoprotein and malondialdehyde levels and paraoxonase-1 activity between subjects with asymptomatic cholelithiasis and controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty subjects with asymptomatic cholelithiasis (55 women, 25 men, mean age: 51, SD 14 years) and 40 control subjects without cholelithiasis (25 women, 25 men, mean age: 51, SD 12 years) were enrolled to the study. Serum paraoxonase activity, lipoproteins, and malondialdehyde were measured. RESULTS: In the cholelithiasis group, serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and malondialdehyde were significantly higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and paraoxonase-1 were significantly lower than the controls. In cholelithiasis patients with serum glucose level>100 mg/dL, body mass index, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher than cholelithiasis patients with serum glucose level<100 mg/dL. Paraoxonase-1 activity was significantly lower in patients with serum glucose level>100 mg/dL. In cholelithiasis patients with TG>150 mg/dL, mean age, body mass index, glucose, total cholesterol, and malondialdehyde were significantly higher than in cholelithiasis patients with TG<150 mg/dL. In cholelithiasis subgroup with TG>150 mg/dL, HDL-C level and paraoxonase-1 activity were lower than in the cholelithiasis subgroup with TG<150 mg/dL. All of the above comparisons were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis have evidence of increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant capacity. Patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis with components of the metabolic syndrome have more lipid peroxidation and less antioxidant capacity than patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis but without the components of the metabolic syndrome.

Role of human neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) overexpression in neoplastic colon polyps.

To explore the role of Human neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) overexpression in neoplastic polyps and might used as a marker to separate those from non-noeplastic polyps. The study was performed on total 65 cases, 40% (n = 26) of them females and 60% (n = 39) of them males, in Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital between March 2012 and June 2012. The assessment of immunostained sections was performed by a random principle by one experinced pathologists to the clinico-pathological data. NGAL expression was based on the presence of cytoplasmic and membranous staining. The NGAL intensities of the cases show highly statistically significantly difference according to the pathological results (p < 0.01). The NGAL prevalences of the cases show highly statistically significantly difference according to the pathological results (p < 0.01). The NGAL ID scores of the cases show highly statistically significantly difference according to the pathological results (p < 0.01). We could hypothesize that NGAL and MMP-9 overexpression in neoplastic polyps might be used as a marker to separate those from non-noeplastic polyps. However, in this study, we determined that NGAL overexpression could not distinguish dysplasia from adenocancer. Finally, we suggest NGAL and MMP-9 as an immunohistochemical marker for colonic dysplasia. To determine dysplasia in early steps of colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence, it could help to determine new targets in preventive cancer therapy for colorectal cancer. We suggest development of standards for study method, introduction to routine practice by investigating in future studies including many patients.

A potential treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with SIRT1 activators.

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are members of the silent information regulator-2 family and act as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent histone/protein deacetylases. The de-acetylation of proteins and histones results in an up- or down-regulation of gene transcription and protein function. In recent years, the regulatory action of the deacetylation activity of SIRT1 has been shown to have a positive impact on the pathophysiological mechanisms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Among the effects of SIRT1 are: its healing activity on insulin sensitivity, thereby ameliorating glycemic regulation; its mimetic activity on calorie restriction; its antihyperlipidemic activity on lipid homeostasis via the liver, adipose tissues and skeletal muscles; its anti-inflammatory activities; its protective effects against cardiovascular events and endothelial dysfunction; its positive influence on autophagy, apoptosis and cancer; and finally, its anti-aging activity. The current approach for the treatment of NAFLD involves the treatment of etiological factors and recommendation of life-style changes including more physical activity and a low-calorie diet. However, there is no specific medical treatments for NAFLD. The therapeutic potential of SIRT1 activity in the treatment of NAFLD discovered in humans has been presented in this article. In this review, the potential effects of SIRT1 activation on NAFLD-related pathophysiological mechanisms and on the treatment of NAFLD are discussed.

Delay and restricted access of new molecules in Turkey compared to the United States and European Union.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the performances of new-molecule (NM) launches in Turkey with those in the European Union and United States for the years 2007-2013. METHODS: The Thomson Reuters Newport Horizon for Innovators Database is used to identify NMs with a launch date after January 1, 2007, worldwide and marketing authorization approval after January 1, 2007, in the European Union. The launch dates for the European Union, the United States, and Turkey were retrieved from the same database. Data for Turkey were confirmed via IMS and RxMedia. RESULTS: Out of 183 records identified that are launched in the European Union, the United States, or both, 44 of the NMs are launched in Turkey (24%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that 24% of the NMs that are launched in either the European Union or United States were able to be launched in Turkey with a mean delay of 821 days (2.25 years).

Prognostic Significance of DR-70 Levels in Dysplastic Colorectal Polyps.

Background. To investigate the relationship between DR-70 serum levels and dysplastic colon polyps. Materials and Methods. A total of 130 patients with adenomatous polyps detected by colonoscopy and divided into two groups including low versus high grade polyp, along with 50 healthy blood donors were included in the study. Blood samples from each participant were analyzed for serum CEA and DR-70 levels. Results. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age or gender. The median DR-70 level was 0.5 µ g/mL in the healthy control group and 1.1 µ g/mL in group 1b (i.e., the high grade polyp) (P < 0.001). DR-70 was higher in group 1b as compared to group 1a (P < 0.001). However, the median DR-70 values for the low grade polyp group (i.e., group 1a) and the control group were similar (P = 0.067). In order to determine independent predictors of high grade dysplasia, CEA, DR-70, polyp size, and age parameters were subjected to multiple logistical regression analyses via the Enter method; the model was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions. DR-70, a marker used to measure FDP, which is generated by all major cancers, is a potential marker to identify patients with advanced adenomatous polyps, that is, precursors of colorectal cancer.